USS Cole

[Expertise]

The US Navy has decided not to reprimand the Captain and crew of the USS Cole I should hope NOT. By all accounts they followed the orders and rules of engagemment they were saddled with.

Yet another example of the NCA (National Command Authority) trying to find a scapegoat when the poor schmucks they send to do a job get zapped for trying to do that job with one hand tied behind their backs.

I am so sick of the bureacrats that come up with these genius directives being able to wash their hands of the blood and walk away while laying the blame at the feet of the dead and the people on the scene.

Sorry for the rant but my personal experiences color my view on this somewhat and make me pray that just occasionally a "suit" would fall on his sword for his idiocy.

For appearances those poor fucks died.

[Edited by Expertise on 01-09-2001 at 05:58 AM]

 

[Closet Desire]

Vulnerability...

Having served a number of years aboard USN ships in that part of the world I'm relieved that the CO isn't going to face discipline. It doesn't matter how many precautions are in place, the risk is always there. Still, it's good to be intense about investigating any lapses in procedure or security so that we learn and so that if a decision is made to not discipline the warriors the public will know it wasn't a whitewash job. Those who have served know how complex it is to be in a busy port with a fairly large ship. You can't go shooting at everything that seems like it might be a threat. Being vulnerable is unavoidable. You also can't be a coward and hide from all possible risks because it defeats the purpose of being there in the first place. I lost friends in Beruit, Iran, and Grenada and, of course, it really pissed me off. It always has been and always will be a dangerous job.

My thoughts are for the friends and family of those who died and the honour of the men and women who continue to face the risk.